Complexity Explorer Santa Few Institute

Crime and punishment occur under extreme uncertainty. Offenders, victims, police officers, prosecutors, witnesses, judges, and jurors all make high-stakes decisions with limited information, often under severe time pressure. Stereotypes exert undue influence under such conditions and affect the workings of the criminal justice system through entrenched and self-perpetuating paths. In this lecture, Dr. Sethi shows how deeply stereotypes are implicated in the controversial criminal justice issues today, and how a clearer understanding of the effects of stereotypes can guide us toward better policy and practice.